Doug Rooks' column May 13 was about the meaning of recent French elections for Americans and our politicians. The French rejected austerity because it made the economy worse.
Rooks' column should be mandatory reading for legislators in Augusta and Washington, D.C., but, they would ignore it because it runs counter to their philosophy that pain — other people's pain — is good.
Gov. Paul LePage and his sycophants in the Legislature insist that cuts in services for the less fortunate and ever lower taxes for the already fortunate will solve all of society's problems. They insist they know better because they are privy to information the people don't have and it would be best if we would please just be quiet and just vote (for them).
As for the Washington Republicans, they seem focused on returning the country to the days of the Founders (insert angelic chorus here). To that end, they propose killing government except where it serves the wealthy. That is the 21st Century political equivalent of 17th Century medicine — amputate first and then bleed the patient.
The real solution is for everyone to vote this coming fall, if that is still allowed. After Florida in 2000, no one can say one vote is meaningless.
The choice for whom to vote is easy. Does a candidate really care about the people and the proper role of government, or is he or she more concerned with cutting government and taxes for the well-to-do who fund their campaigns?
Tony Nazar, Wilton
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It's not the government's job to "care" for the people
"Provide for common defense, promote the general welfare..." Do you remember this? It does not say "provide" welfare any place that I recall. It is not the job of the government to take care of the people.
It is the job of the government to defend it's people, to make sure that laws are applied equally for all citizens, and to deliver punishment to those who break those laws. That is all.
it is not the job of the government to make sure that every person in this country has the same amount of wealth as every other person. That is Communism. It is not the job of government to make sure that all people have the same kind of care and benefits as everyone else does. That is Socialism.
The U.S. runs, as it should, on Capitalism. The premise that everyone has the same opportunity to make money that everyone else does if you work for it, or in some cases, if you're lucky.
Get a job, any job. Are we any better than the Mexican picking vegetables or digging a ditch? Some might think that the job is beneath them but that is because the government has placated people with welfare programs for so long that there is no longer any pride in a job well done. None of us is any better than that immigrant farm worker, we're just lazier, and for that we should be punished. If you are 18 and have no job and get pregnant willingly, You should not be entitled to any benefits at all. The family should be responsible for the child, not the government. If you can't afford to take care of children, don't have children. If you can't afford medical care, make sure that you don't smoke or drink or do drugs that will require you to need medical care. If you do wind up needing medical care after squandering your money, you lose.
I don't begrudge care for those who are NOT able to work to support themselves, nor to I want to stop aid to those families who need assistance caring for those who are NOT able to provide for themselves due to injury or disease. I take issue with providing support to people who are capable of supporting themselves or their families in some manner but choose not to because it's easier to let the government do it.
We have become a country full of entitlement hounds and it is going to be the end of us. Austerity may not be the answer, but continuing down this path of run-amok social programs isn't the way to go either. There has to be middle ground somewhere but I don't think that we, as a people, are willing to work towards it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Tony, The alternative to
Tony,
The alternative to austerity is continuance of debt spending. Please enlighten us on how a Nation can continue in that manner? Are you not just postponing the inevitable when a Nation’s credit dries up or a Nation continues to print money without bounds?
Since many of our day-to-day items are imports, like crude oil, what do you think will happen to the price of these items when the t dollar is devalued?
One bright spot is that we can keep an eye on Greece to see if it drops out of the EU and starts printing its own currency to keep up with an unsustainable life style. Hopefully we’ll learn from them before it is too late, and we follow that same path.
“To that end, they propose killing government except where it serves the wealthy.”
Is this just your opinion, or do you have insights into some kind of conspiracy? What is your evidence? Moreover, don’t the Democrats give special favors to their wealthy supporters? Why do you selectively fail to mention that as well?
While your cries of apocalypse may resonate with people of like mind, there is nothing of substance backing your assertions. It is time for all readers to set aside their emotions and think critically. Can this nation continue to borrow $0.40 (today’s debt rate) on the dollar without negative economic impact?
Lastly, smaller government means less political favors from both major parties. Less money in Washington means less money to grant political favors. If crooks go where the money is to be found, let’s move the money back into the pockets of the rightful owners.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The European definition of "austerity" is ...
... lower spending with higher taxes or, at best, the same level. That's what wrecked the economy of Greece, is putting Portugal's in peril, and threatening France, Spain, and even Germany. France's answer is to give Socialists the authority to hike spending and taxes, almost guaranteeing a collapse, perhaps of the entire EU.
The real solution is lower spending AND lower taxes. If the vote this Fall is for reelection and for restoring the Democrat majority in the House and maintaining it in the Senate, the US will jump on France's bandwagon. Trouble is, there won't be anyone left to pull it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Eliminate government
How about everything privatized with each person paying for the services he or she requires. No pooling of funds allowed that could lead to a social contract and government. If you need police, call Blackwater. For fire, pewrhaps we could go back to the days of three or four private firefighting companies responding, then brawling to see who gets to fight the fire. Education - slate and chalk by firelight. National defense goes to Blackwater again - you probably want to buy their stock, they might become the megacorp of the future. Of course, they may also take your money and run because there'd be no one to tell them they couldn't. LOL
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Tony, Why must you swing your
Tony,
Why must you swing your pendulum on to far opposite end of the spectrum when someone mentions downsizing (i.e. reducing taxing and spending) government?
I read of no one proposing to eliminate government.
You are trying to establish a false dichotomy (big government or no government), which most readers are not buying.
You’re welcome to “LOL”, but your brand of government failing throughout Europe is it not?
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